HEARTBROKEN parents feel they have been robbed of their “gentle giant” son after doctors failed to spot the signs of cancer until it was too late.

Christopher Gradon was diagnosed with testicular cancer in April 2006 – almost six months since he first visited his GP to complain of pain in his lower abdomen.

Determined to fight back to health, he was blasted with chemotherapy treatment. But the disease spread throughout his body and he was given the life-shattering news by medics that they had caught it “too late”.

Still trying to come to terms with his death on January 8, aged just 33, his family and friends have paid tribute to nature-loving Christopher, of Gateshead.

They described him as one of life’s individuals who was never happier than when he was out walking in the countryside or building a campfire with friends.

But their fond memories are tinged with the knowledge that had he been diagnosed earlier, Big Chris might be here today.

Mum Carolyn Pitts-Gradon, 55, who lives with husband Michael Pitts, 59, in Meadow Lane, Dunston, said: “I feel that Christopher should still be here. Mistakes have been made and it should have been picked up sooner.

“He knew something was wrong and went to the doctors, but they just gave him antibiotics.

“For six months he kept going back to the GP as he was in so much pain. At one point he got these big boils on his back, but no-one seemed to be investigating the cause.

“In the end he went to a walk-in clinic, saw a locum GP and they sent him for tests straight away. The gave him intensive chemo and for a while he got better and everyone was hopeful. But then it came back and he was told he had two brain tumours. They said there was nothing more they could do and that they were afraid he had come to them too late.

“We just want to get the message across to people how important it is to get it treated as early as possible.

“In Christopher’s case he did go to the doctors, but they didn’t spot it. You have to open your mouth, scream and shout if that’s what it takes or go and get a second opinion. But it could save your life.

“He was such a lovely lad, very gentle. He did not deserve this.”

Dad, George, 50, who lives with wife Liz in Twice Brewed, where they run a B&B, said: “The way Christopher coped with everything made us all very proud.

“He didn’t like it if people said he was brave. He had cancer and he had to deal with it. But he never complained. A lot of people didn’t know how ill he was as he just tried to get on with his life.”

Over 100 people attended Christopher’s funeral and his friends have set up a website in his memory – called the Big Doolanga, a nickname that had evolved over the years. George added: “We have been very touched by the warm things people have said about him.

“Just a few months ago a group of his friends carried his wheelchair down an almost vertical path so he could be out in the places that he loved.”

Christopher, a warehouse operative with Sage UK, spent the last few weeks of his life in the Marie Curie Hospice.

His family asked for donations instead of flowers at his funeral and they have so far collected over £600. Visit http://doolanga.blogspot.com/